Ballast-screening machine



4 1927. ,Jan H. G. WARR BALLAST SCREENING MACHINE N @ww Jan. 4, 1927.A

H, G. WARR BALLAST SCREENING MACHINE Filed oct.

8, 1925 5 Sheets-#Sheet 2 NNN mw MQ 1927 Jan 4 H. G. WARR BALLAST SCREENNG MAcHlNE 8, 1923 5 SheveA-.si-Sheet 5 Filed Oct.

fsw ma A H. G. WARR BALLAST SCREENING MACHINE Jan. 4,1927, f 1,613,420

F'iled Oct. 8. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 4` if@ WN Jan. 4 1927. H. G WARR BALLAST SCREENING MACHINE Filed oct. a, 1923 wNuimulllNlllll unlllllfilmu @-Nn-zu 5 SheetsSheet.V 5

o V1gb Patented Jan. 4, 1927.

PATENT FFECE.

HAROLD Gr. WARE, OF PARK RDGIE, ILLINOIS, ASSGNOR, BY IVIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T MANENANCE EQUPMENT COMEANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATON OF ILLINOIS.

BALLAST-SCREENING MACHXNE.

Application tiled October 8, 1923.

'My invention relates to track ballast screening machines ot' the type adapted to be moved along the rails of a track` to receive the mixed ballast, cinders, dirt, and other loose material to be shoveled into .a suitable hopper in one end t'or separating the ballast from the foreign matter, so as to deliver the screened ballast to the track at the opposite end ot the machine. It is one ot the objects ot' my invention to improve machines ot this type so as to increase to the maximum the cleaning etlect of the treatment ot the ballast as it is dashed or thrown into contact with the .several parts ot the nlechanism in succession as the ballast moves through the machine.

It is another object ot my invention to provide a construction and arrangement by reason of which a large gang ot' men can be employed to advantage 'for shovcling the bal last into the machine; to in'iprove the construction and arrangement ot the means for depositing the cleaned ballast again upon the track in the desired position; to improve the arrangement or" the screen by which the desired adjustment may be effected for suiting the requirements tor diii'erent kinds and different conditions ot ballast; to provide tor the advancement ot'- the machine along the track at the desired rate to keep pace with the gang otl workmen; and for otherwise improving machines of this type in sundry details, hereinafter pointed out.

lNhile l prefer to employ the forms and arrangements of parts as illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter described, it will be understood that I do not wish to be restricted to the detailed forms shown, except so 'far as such detailed construction is hereinafter claimed, inasmuch as it is evident that many changes may be made in the mechanism without vdeparting' from the spirit ot my invention.

What l believe to be new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the claims.

ln the drawingsy Fig. 1 is a side view ot' my improved machine in position upon a track;

Fig. 2 a transverse vertical sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, upon un enlarged scale and partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical. section ta ren on line a-fl of Fig. Ll;

Serial No. 667,347,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line of Fiv. 2;

Fig. 4. is a top plan view of the rear end portion ot' the machine, partially broken away for convenience ot illustration;

5 and 6 are enlarged detail views, being sections taken respectively' at lines 5-5 and 6-6 of Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the `forward end of my improved machine, being partially broken away for convenience ot' illustration;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view, being a section taken on line 8--8 ot Fig. l.; l

Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 9 9 ot Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a side view of the train ot reduction gearing between the engine and the driven axle;

Fig. 11 is a plan View ot the parts shown in Fig 10;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view ot thc rear end of the machine, showing a moditied form ot construction, being partly broken away; and

Fig. 13 is a side view, partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 12.

Referringnow to Figs. l to 11 inclusive, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, 15 indicates a horizontally disposed conveyor which forms the bottom tor a forwardly extending hopper 16 into which a gang of workmen are able to shovel ballast to be cleaned, the hopper being located at such a level that a considerable numberot men can work to ads vantage without any necessity t'or any ci them to throw the ballast to a high level. The ballast is carried by the conveyor 15 rearwardly and dumped upon the lower end ot an elevator conveyor 17 by which it is carried upwardly and thrown upon the upper end of a screening device 18 by which the loose dirt is separated from the stones for 'delivery of the cleaned ballast again to the track by gravity at the rear end ot the machine.

The main 'frame of the machine comprises side bars 19 and 2O in the form of channels, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 9. These side bars are connected together by means ot cross-bars 21, 22, 23, 2li, 25, 26 and 2T, and by diagonally' disposed brace bars 28 and 29. Angle bars 30, 31, 32 and 3S depend from the side bars 19 and 20,. carrying at their lower ends cross-bars 34 and 35, upon the outer ends of which are mounted platforms 36 and 37. A seat 38 is mounted upon the platform 37 as shown in Fig. 4i.

An axle 39, having wheels 40 Xedly mounted thereon, is journaled in position transversely of the main frame by the use of brackets 41 of any approved type, which brackets are braced in position by means of short Lbeamse Which in turn are reinforced by corner angles 48, as best shown in Fig. 2. A second axle lll? hayingwheels 45 lixedly mounted thereon is journaled in position by means of brackets Gisimilar tothe brackets L11. For use forremoving the machine from the track, transversely disposed wheels 47 are mountedA on, the frame in position to support the machine uponr beams to be placedL transversely of the traclnhandles 18 being pro-vided on the sides of. the main frame for convenience in handling the machine in the operation of lifting` the ends thereof alternately for placingA the beams (notr shown) inl position.

The framework-,of the machine comprises further vertical bars 49 and 50, rising from the main frame above the axle S9, such bars being in the form of channels and being connected at their. upper ends by a cross-bar 51 in the form of an angle bar. lliagonf ally disposed angle bars 52 andA 531 are connected at their upper ends with the upright bars 49 and 5() respectively, andare con.- nected at their lower ends with angle-barsi rising from the main frame adjacentjto the cross-bar 27 at the rear ondof the machine.

Mounted on the main frame, justin advance of the axle 39, there is a motor, shown in the form of an internal combustion engine, having a radiator 55 and a eylinderblock 56 supported by a heavy plate 57 from the cross-bars 25 and 26. Themotor shaft 58is connected by means of bevel gears 59 and 60 and a train of tranmission mechanism as hereinafter described with a longitudinal.- ly extending driving shaft 611 which is connected suitable gearing (not shown) with the axle i4 within the housing 62, serving to drive the machine in either direction. A brake 63 of any suitable type is mounted upon the axle 4.4 for assistingin the control of the mach ine, such brake being operated by means of a lever 64, connected with the brake by links 65 and 66 andan interposed bell crank lever 67.

Coming now to a description of the horizontally disposed conveyor 15 and the hopper 16, 68 indicates a base board forthe hopper` being supported `by the crossbars 21. Q2 and. 23 andbeingIv fixedlyv connected therewith, and being extended to some littledistance ahead of the cross-bar 21 at the end of the main frame. Laterally inclined side boards 69 and 70 are secured in position above the base board 68-'so as to form an elongated hopper, as above described, into which the ballast to be cleaned can be shoveled to advantage by a large gangof men-as the machineis moved from point to point along the track, such movement of the machine being preferably continuous at the rate at' which the work is progressing. A centrally located baffle board 71 is held in position with respect to the side boards 69 and by. means of straps 72 located atintervals thercalong, such straps 72 serving ythe additional function of bracing the side boards 69 and 7 O with respect toeaclr other. The forward ends of the sideboards` 69. and 7 O arel further braced With respect to each other by meansof a cross bar 73, as is shown in Fig. 7.

At its forwardend, the hopper 16 is provided with forwardly extending angle bars 7% and 75, which are. braced. in position by means of diagonally disposed brace. bars 76, as is best shown inFig. 7. A roller 77 mounted upon a shaft 78 isheld. in position upon the forwardly extending-bars 74 and 75, so as to be adjustable therealong, such adjustment being effected by the use of any .suitable means. A roller 79 is mounted in position opposite the roller 77, butr at the opposite end of the hopper 16, beingheld. in position by a shaft 8O secured in position upon the main frame oftheV machine, as is iest shown in Fig. 4.. ln the construction shown, the horizontally disposed conveyor 15 abovel referred to is in the form of an endless belt mounted upon the rollers 77 and 79, such belt being capable of being tightened by an adjustment. of the shaft-76 toward the rightin Fig. 1, aswill be readily understood.

The means for drivingt'he endless belt 15 comprises a driving pulley 81 mounted upon the shaft SO, so as to rot-ate with the roller 79, such driving pulley 81 being connected by means of a belt 82 with a, driving pulley 83, keyed upon the motorshaft 58 as is shown in Fig. 4. For tighteningthebelt 82, I have provided a roller 84ifrevolubly mounted upon a pivoted arm R5Awhich is acted upon by a spring 86 for tighteningl the belt. lVith the motor shaft 58runningin counterclookwise direction in 1, the horizontally disposed conveyor 15` willibe driven at comparatively high speed. in ther direction for carrying the ballast rearwardly (towards the left in said Fig. 1).

As is best shown in Fig.l 1, the elevator conveyor 17 is also in the form of an endless belt. the upper ply of which isy supported by a base-board 87. The endless belt 17 is providedwith cleats 88 extending vacross at intervals therealong, upon its outer face. as is best shown in Fig. l. The upper end of the inclined conveyor belt 171s sup,- ported by a roller S9 which is carried by a driving shaft 90 journaled upon the upright frame bars 49 and 50. The lower end of the conveyor belt is held in position below the rear end of the conveyor 16 by means of a roller 91 `(see Fig. 1), which is preferably mounted in position so as to be readily adjustable toward and from the roller 89, such adjustment to bek effected by the use of any suitable mechanism.

The shaft 90 is driven in counterclockwise direction in Fig. 1, for driving the conveyor belt 17 so as to carry the upper ply of such belt upwardly. To this'end, the shaft 90 is provided with a driving pulley 92 adapted to rotate with the roller 89, the pulley 92 being driven by means of an endless belt 93 which is actuated by a driving pulley 94 mounted upon the motor shaft 57. A roller 95 revolubly mounted upon an arm 96 is held by a spring 97 yieldingly in contact with the belt 93 for holding the belt in properly tightened condition.

As is best shown in Fig. 2, diagonally disposed side bars 98 and 99 are provided at opposite sides of the belt 17 for preventing the material from falling from .the belt.

The screening device 18, in the construction shown, is in the form of a chute, the bottom 100 of which is in the form of a screen of any suitable type. The screening device 18 is pivotally7 mounted upon a horizontally disposed pivot pin 101, which is held in position by arms 102 which are connected at one end with the shaft 90 and at their lower ends with a stationary chute 103 secured in poiition upon the framework below the screen. The lower end of the screening device 18 is supported adjustably in position by means of arms 10-1 mounted upon a rock shaft 105, journaled upon the upright bars 54 and held in adjusted position thereon by means of a lever 106 cooperating with a segment 107. The arms 104 are connected with the chute 18 by means of links 108.

At the upper end of the screening device 18 I have provided a baffle plate 109 opposite the end of the elevator conveyor 17, the side portions of the baille plate 109 being diagonally disposed so as to have a tendency to deect the ballast laterally towards the edge portions of the screening device 18 as the ballast comes into contact with such plate from the conveyor 17. In the construction shown, the baffle plate 109 is made of metal in the form of a wide V, as is seen in Fig. 6. The baille plate 109 is preferably mounted directly upon the upper end of the screening device 18.

As is best shown in Figs. 5 and 8, the screen 100 forming the bottom of the screening device. is buckled upwardly at its middle portion so that the screen inclines laterally from the center toward the diverging outer edge portions. The degree of lateral inclination vof the screen decreases toward the discharge end so as to spread the ballast delivered to the upper end of the chute as the ballast moves downwardly along the chute.

As will be readily understood, as the ballast and the loose material shoveled into4 the hopper 16 with the ballast slide gradually down the screening device 18, the greater portion of the loose material will find its way through the meshes of the screen 100 and fall into the chute 103 below the screen. For carrying such loose material to one side of the machine and dun'iping it at some little distance from the track,` I have provided a laterally disposed trough 110 underneath the lower end of the chute 103, the outer end of the trough 110 being supported in posit-ion by a diagonallydisposed chain or link 11.1 connected at its upper end with the diagonal bar 52. Within the trough 110 I have mounted a screw conveyor 112 carried by a shaft 113. The shaft 113 is driven by the use of bevel gears 114 and 115, the latter of which is mounted upon a longitudinally extending shaft 116 (see Fig. Al), the shaft 116 in turn being driven by means of bevel gears 117 and 118, the latter of which is fixed upon a vertically disposed shaft 119 (see Fig. 3), which shaft 119 is driven by bevel gears 120 and 121, the latter of which is mounted upon the shaft 90. It

`will be understood that the train of gearing between the shaft 116 and the shaft 90 is such as to drive the screw device 112 in the direction for carrying the dirt outwardly along the trough 110, so as to be dumped from the outer end of the trough. The shafts 119 and 90 are connected at their adjacent ends by means of a suitable bracket 122. while the shafts 113 and 119 are connected by a bracket 123 which is mounted upon the cross-bar 26, as is best shownrin Fig. 3.

ln the construction shown, l have made the trough in sections, 2 of the drawings showing three such sect-ions, and Fig. 2a showing in dotted lines a changed posi tion of one of the outer sections. ln Fig. 2, the first outer section. is indicated by 11021, and the second outer section shown by dotted lines is indicated by 110". In each instance, the outer section is supported with reference to the next inner section by means of brackets 123n and 123D, the bracket 123i) being provided with a pin 123c extending through a horizontally disposed slot in the bracket 1231. The parts of the several sections of the conveyor are indicated by the same reference characters, except for the addition of exponent a in connection with the section 110a and of exponent b in'con nection with the section 110`b. As is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 2a, the adjacent ends of the shafts 113, 113a and 113b are joined together by tongues and grooves so as to lilith the machine upon a track with theI section 110a extending over an adjacent track, the adjacent track can be cleared by giving the section 110a a slight movement outwardy (toward the left in Fig. 2a) carrying the pin 1.28c to the outer end of the slot in the bracket 12E", and then swingingthe section 110n upwardly about the pin 128c as a pivot. other sections in addition to thc section 110'b might be used if desired, each adjacent scction'beingl det-achably connected with the adjacent inner section.

ln operation, with the machine upon a track as shown in Fig'. 1, the machine is moved to the desiredlpoint alonegthe track by power from the motor through the gears 59 and 60 and the transniission mechanism as hereinafter described. lvlhen the inachine as a whole is to be moved alongl a track without operating' the conveyors 15 and 17, the rollers 94- and 95 are to be retracted from operative position against the action of the springs and 87, so as to loosen the driving' belts 82 and 9 8, such jretraction et the rollers being' effectedv by the use of any suitable mechanisn'i as may be desired, operating preferably upon the aims and 9G.

lVhen the machine has reached the desired position, the desired number' of workmen are employed for shoveling` the ballast from the track into the hopper 1G, the belts 82y and 98 having in the meantime been tightened by the release of the rollers 84 and Q5. The ballast thrown by the workmen on either side of the track strikes tirst against the baffle board 71, where there is a tcnnency to loosen the dirt and other fine particles from the stones. A second loosening effect is produced when thel ballast 'falls from the baffle board 71 into contact with the conveyor 15. As is abovel explained, the conveyor 15 is preferably driven at such a speed as to cause the ballast to be thrown with some little force from the end of the conveyor into contact with the conveyor 17, the lower end ot which underlies the .rear end of the conveyor 15. The contact of the ballast with the conveyor 17 is thus seen to produce a third loosening,l effect upon the dirt carried by the stones. lt will be understood that the conveyor 17 is also driven at comparatively high speech-that is to say.` at substantially the same speed as that of the conveyor 10. The result is that the ballast upon reaching the upper end of the conveyor 1T is thrown with some littlc force against the baille plate 100, which is interposed in the path of the ballast as it passes the conveyor 1i' to the screening device 18.` inasmuch as the baffleplate 109 As will be readily understood,

is inclinedf forwardly, it directs the material downwardly into forcible contact with the screeningy device. It is thus seen that the arrangement asiabove described provides a-` four-tlrand a iitth looseningv effect upon the dirt carriedby the stones as the material is: thrown from the conveyor 1T- into contact-with the baille plate 100, and then from theY plate 109 to the screening,` device 18.

rlhe screening device 18 is designed to be adjusted'to such an inclination as will insure the ballast sliding. down the same withoutv piling` upy thereon. llilhcn the ballast is wet, the screen must be held at a steeper angle` than. when the ballast is dry. Moreover, some types of ballast require a steeper slant than others. lt is desirable that the inclination be kept as low as possible consistent with the proper movement ot the ballast, the. screening effect being thereby maintained at a maximum. By providing` the baffle plate 109 in a form comprising4 diagonally disposed portions which have a tendency to spreadthe ballast with respect to the screening' device, and by providing the screening' device itself in such form that there is a tendency to direct the niaterial towards the side portions ot' the screen` and by making'V the sides ofthe screening device in divergt-nit position, as is shown in Fig. 4f, I have provided a construction by which the ballast is very evenly distributed over the track it leaves the lower end of the screening device.

Coming now to 12 and 18, .in which a modified form of construction is shown, the parts are indicated by the same refer` ence numerals as in the other figures so far as they correspond with the construction heretofore described.l

In the construction shown in Figs. 12 and 13, a screeninedevice 124 is substituted in place of the screening device 18, formerly described, and an endless belt conveyor 125 is substituted in place ot the screw conveyor 112 above described.

The screening device 124- is in the :form of a chute having a screen 121 forming its bottom portion, the device 124 being mounted upon "a vertical pivot pin 126 carried by the chute, such pin 126 having* a bearingin a yoke 127'journaled upon the shaft 90 at one endand fiXedly secured to the chute 103- at its other end'. In this construction the baille plate 128 is preferably mounted upon the cross-bar 51 in` lieu of being` mounted upon the screening` device 124. For supporting),` the lower end of the screening device 1.24, I have provided an arc-shaped member 129 in concentric position about the pin 126 a roller 180 being'. mounted upon the lower face of the screening device 12d in position to run upon the member 129. At its lower end the screening` device 12st is provided titi,

with a nozzle 131 which is capable of being swung abouta vertical axis with respect to the screening device 124.

As will be readily understood, by swinging the screening device 124 from side to side of the machine, the ballast may be directed to one side or the other to meet the conditions at any point, such distribution of the ballast being further facilitated by the swinging of the nozzle member 131.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 12, the endless belt conveyor 125 is supported by rollers 132 and 133 at its ends, the roller 133 being` mounted by means of a shaft 134 upon a laterally extending framework comprising transversely extending bars 135 and 136. .The shaft 134 is preferably adjustable longitudinally of the bars 135 and 136 to provide for tightening the belt 125. The roller 132 is mounted upon a longitudinally extending shaft 137 substituted in place of the Vshaft 116 of the construction heretofore described. The shaft 137 is driven from the shaft 119 by means of bevel gears 138 and 139 connecting said two shafts, as is shown in Fig. 13, a bracket 140 being provided for holding the shafts in suitable position with respect to each other, said bracket 140 being supported from the crossbar 26. The arrangement of the gearing between the shaft 90 and the shaft 137 is such as to cause the upper ply of the endless belt 125 to move outwardly with respect to the body of the machine for carrying the dirt from the hopper 103 and dumping it at the side of the track.

The train of transmission mechanism between the motor shaft k58 and the axle 44 is preferably arranged as illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, whether the form of device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 be employed, or the form illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12. As here illustrated, the gear 60 is keyed upon a sleeve 141. which is revolubly mounted upon the rear end of the shaft 61, such shaft being supported near its rear end by a bearing 142. Revolubly mounted upon the sleeve 141 there is a gear 1 43, and mounted in fixed position upon the shaft 61 in spaced relation to the gear 143 there is a clutch member 144. l\l m11ted upon the sleeve 141 there is a shiftable clutch member 145 feathered or otherwise suitably secured upon the sleeve 141,

so as to move longitudinally thereof. but tov rotate therewith. The movable clutch ineinber 145 is adapted to stand in neutral posi- By this construction, t-he gear 60 can be dis,

connected from both the gear 143 and the shaft 61, or it can be employed for driving either of such parts alternatively.

Directly above the shaft 61 there is mounted a counter-shaft 146 between bearings 147 and 148. At one end the shaft 146 is provided with a gear 149 which meshes with the 143. Upon its opposite end, the shaft 146 is provided with a sprocket pinion 150 which is connected by means of a chain '151 with a sprocket gear 152 which is revolubly mounted upon the shaft 61. The gear 149 and the pinion 150 are iiXedly mounted uponthe shaft 146 so as to rotate in unison. with the sprocket gear 152 there is a sprocket pinion 153 which is connected by a chain 154 Connected 1 with a sprocket gear 155 iixedly mounted upon the end of a short shaft 156 revoluloly mounted in bearings 157 and 158 in alignment with the shaft 146. Upon the forward end of the shaft 156 there is mounted a beveled gear 159 which meshes with a beveled gear 160 keyed upon a vertically disposed shaft 161 supported by bearings 162 and 163. YFeathered upon the shaft 161 or otherwise mounted so as to rotate with the shaft, while being movable longitudinally of the shaft, there is a friction pinion 164 which is adapted to engage a friction disc 165 iiXedly mounted on the shaft 61. As will be readily understood, the friction pinion 164 is designed to be adjusted to any desired point on the face ofthe disc 165 or to be moved entirely out ofcontact with the disc as is shown in the upper position in Fig. 10.

By the use of the mechanism above described, the power from the gear 60 can be applied directly to the shaft 61y by `the use l of the clutch members 145 and144. As an alternative, the power can Vbe applied through the clutch member 145 to the hub of the gear 143 which is adapted to have clutching engagement therewith for driving the gear 143. The Vgear 143 in turn drives the gear 149, the shaft 146, the pinion 150,

the sprocketgear 152, the pinion 153,7`the sprocket gear 155. the shaft 156, the gears 159 and 160, the shaft 161, the friction pin-V ion 164, the friction disc 165, and the shaft 61. As will be readily understood, when the shaft 61 is driven through the clutch members 144 and 145, the friction pinion is to be moved out of contact with the friction disc 165 so that the slow speed mechanism maybe permittedv to remain at rest.

By the use of the slow speed mechanism as above described, the rotation of the shaft 61 is cut down from approximately 400 revoD lutions it is given per minute by the direct drive, to a very small fraction of that number of revolutions, depending upon the position of the friction pinion 164. The slow speed drive is designed to produce from about one to four revolutions per minute. If the power then be applied without mul-- tiplication or reduction from the shaft 61 to the wheels 45, there would be produced a speed of approximately 250 ft. to 1000 ft. per hour. It is designed that a reversing gear be employed within the housing 62 betvveien the slia'itflV and theaxle il 'so that the'niachine can be driven in either direction,y either at the traveling speed or at the Working speed, as maybe desired.

By the provision ot' the Vspeed reduction means of very Wide scope from the standpoint 'of the rednctioneii'ected, and with the change 'of Aspeed available ythroinggh the nse 4o't-the variable friction drive, I amenabled topropel the machine toivard the right in Fig.V l. to keep pace withtheprogress oi the work, Yso that the 'gang oit' Workmen shovel into theI chiite "attheforward end ofthe machine and `ftl1eballa`st is deposited on 'the track Vin cleaned Vcondition at ftherear 'with a minimum expenditnre ottime and labor.

ln the'constrnction slio'\vn,'tle'n1eans provided for controlling the position ot' the 'friction pinionlt/-l 'i'orvaryinpj the speed of the drive comprises "an arm :166 engagingf the hub ofthe pinion, sncharin 'being adjustable vertically by Vmeans -ol a screwthrea'ded rod 167 having,r a hand `Wheel 168 onitxs upper entl lf'or 'turning it.

l claim:

l. AAballa-st screening` machine, co1nprising a -frame, 'a screening;` device lonsaid llame, a conveyor for'elevating the material to be cleaned to isaid screening,` device, ta

horizontally disposed conveyor overhan'gin'g 'the lower vend 'otthe 'elevating conveyor,

and means for drivingr the overhang'ing Conveyor 'at lsncha speed'asto th'rmvtheinate- Arialdownwardly vand longitudinally et the conveyor' with considerable torce 'from the 'endV of the `overhangingconveyor npon'the elevating' conveyor. Y i

Q. Al ballastscreening machine, compris ing'a frame, a screening device `on said frame, a conveyor `lorelevating the material 'tolbe cleanedtto said screening device, a horizontally disposed ,hopper 'leading to said ci'niveyer and ijoverhairging the iloiver end thereof. a" baille in sa1d hopper againstwhich the ballast to'be cleaned may be shoveled for looseningthe dirt" therefrom, anda second conveyor npon ivliich the material to be cleaned'iialls after `contact `with the 'baille i'orfwirrying' the material along' the hopper' for delixvry npon the elevating conveyor.

3. A allast screening: xnachine" comprising a iframe, 'a screening tlevice Ion said traine. a 'co'nveyoiftor elevatinta'"thematerial to he cleaned to saidy screening device, a horizontally disposed Ahopper leading to said conveyor Vand ove-rlianging fthe lower end thereof, a centrally'locatedballle'board in saidhopper against which the ballast tolle cleaned may lYbefs'hoveled `frein either side of the'inachine for'loosening' the' dirt'therefrom, an endless belt' conveyor in` said vhopper' below said battle board npon Ywhich said the' endless" leltconveyor at snch a speed as to lthi-inv the material `forcibly `theretroin npon theelevating conveyor.

Lt. A ballast screening machine, comprising` "a traine, a 'screening device on sanl `ram`e,a conveyor for elevating` the material to becleaned'to said screening device, a horizontally disposed conveyor overhanging the loyver end olf the elevating conveyor, and means tor driving' said conveyors at comparatively high speethso as to throw the inaterial with considerable L'force trein, the ends 'of the conveyors, seri'fing'to throw the nniterial downwardly and longitudinally oi the oierhangiing` conveyor upon the elevating conveyor `and in'tnrn to threw the inaterial 'upwardly 'and longitudinally of the elevatingl conveyor upon'the screeninga device.

.frballast screening ii'iachine, con'iprising atraihefa V'screening' device on said traine, alrendlessbelt'i conveyor on said frame lead- `ing'to said eening device, ynieans or'drivlng said conveyor Itsncha speed as to thronv thefi'naterial llercibly therefrom upon (he sereening'device, and a baille lplate interlposed in 'the patire'tI the niaterialfroin vthc conveyorto the screening` device.

"(3. 'A ballast screeningmachine comprisingl a Jfra'1ne,'a screening` device on said frame, "an endlessbelt conveyor in inclined position on saidfframe leading to saidscreening'device, y'means 'for driving "said conveyor at snch asp'eediasto throwfthe material 'forcibly therefrom upon the'screeningy device,

and meansior spreading` the material later ally over Vthe screening device in'its move- Vment from l the conveyor.

7. A'ballast screening' machine comprising` a fram@ `a screeningidevice on said frame, 'an endless belt conveyor in inclined position on said frame leading` to said screening device, nieans for ,driving said conveyor at such a speed aste throw the material torcibly `therefrom apen the screening device, and a diagonallydisposed baille board interposed in thefpath ot the material Afrom the conveyor to the screening device,` servinlfglo 'deflect the material laterally over the screening device.

'H A ballast.screening inaclline comprising at'ranie, a Vscreeningdevice on said traine, an endless belt conveyorin inclined position 'on said 'frame leading` to said screeningT device, .means for driving,v `said conveyor at snch a 'speed as to throw the mateiial forcibly therefrom npon the screening device, VAand `a balile'plate comprising two diagomi-llyY "disposed portions interposed in the path ot tliematerialfronrthe conveyor to the cleanlit) lil)

said trame leading to said screening device, means ior driving said conveyor at such a speed as to throw the material forcibly therefroi'n upon the screening device, and a battle plate in the term ot' a wide V interposed in the path of the material trom the conveyor to the screening device serving` to spread the material laterally over the screening device.

l0. fr ballast screening machine comprising` a trame, a screening' device on said frame, an endless belt conveyor' ininclined position on said Ltrame leading to said screening device, means for driving said conveyor at suoli a speed as to throiY the material forcibly therefrom upon the screening device, and a baille plate inclined both forwardly and laterally and interposed in the path of the material from the conveyor to the screening device. serving to throw the material downwardly and laterally.

il. A ballast screening machine comprising a trame, a screening device on said frame, an endless belt conveyor in inclined position on said frame leading to said screening device, a baille plat-e inclined lorwardly above the upper end et' the conveyor, and means for driving said conveyor at such a speed as to throw the material therefrom forcibly into contact with the baille plate.

l2. A ballast screening machine comprising a iframe, an elevating` conveyor on said frame for hitting the material to be cleaned into elevated position thereon, an inclined screening device adjustable angularly in a vertical direction in position to receive the material from the conveyor, and a baffle plate interposed between said screening device and said conveyor and adjustable with the sreening device for directing the material to the desired position on the screening device.

i3. A ballast screening machine con'iprising a iframe` an elevating conveyor on said trame 'tor lifting the material to be cleaned into elevated posit-ion thereon, an inclined screening device adjustable angularly in a vertical direction in position to receive the material 'from the conveyor, and a baille plate mounted on the screening device in the path ot the material from the conv-yor to the screening device serving to spread the material over the screening device.

lei. il ballast screening` machine comprising a une, an elevating conveyor on said trame tor lifting the material to be cleaned into elevated position thereon, an inclined screening device adjustable angularly in a vertical direction in imsition to receive the material .trom the conveyor, and a forwardly inclined batlle plate mounted on the screening device above the upper end ot the conveyor in the path ot the material 'troni the conveyor to the screening device serving Ll i il@ to spread device.

l5. A ballast screening machine, comprising a trame, a chute supported in inclined position longitudinally ot the traine and having downwardly dii/'erging sides, and means 'for delivering material to be cleaned to the chute at its upper end portion, the longitudinally inclined bottom wall ot the chute comprising screen portions inclined laterally, the lateral inclination of which decreases toward the discharge end ot'vthe chute. l

i6. A ballast screening machine, comprising a frame, a chute extending downwardly and rearwardly on said frame and extending substantially across the trame at its rear end portion, a screening device supported in incllned position on said frame above said chute and adjustable horizontally about a v v rtical axis into different positions above said chute, and means for delivering material to be cleaned to the upper end portion oi said screening device.

17. A. ballast screening machine compris"- ing a frame, an elevating conveyor on said trame for lifting the material to be cleaned into elevated position thereon, a screening device angularly adjustable about a vertical axis on said frame in position-to receive the material from the conveyor, and a nozzle device adjustable laterally about a vertical axis upon the lower end of the screening device for controlling the delivery oi' the ballast upon the track.

i8. A ballast screening machine comprising a trame, a conveyor on said frame for carrying the material to be cleaned, a screeningl device in position on said frame to receive the material from the conveyor', a second conveyor swingingly mounted on the frame in transverse position thereon for carrying away the material passing through the material over the screening screen, and means 'for driving said two coni veyors.

19. A ballast screening machine comprising a frame, a conveyor on said trame for carrying the material to be cleaned, a screening device in position on said frame to receive the material from the conveyor, and a screw conveyor pivotally mounted on said trame on an axis extendiifig longitudinallj,` ot' the trame so as to be capable oi being swung upwardly to clear an adjacent track, said screw conveyor being normally in position to carry away the material passing through the screen.

20. A ballast screening machine coinprising a trame, a. conveyor on said trame `l'or carrying the material to be cleaned, a screening device in position on said Yframe to receive the material from the conveyor, and a second conveyor extending transversely of the frame and comprising a plurality of seclit;

lill) l lll tions pivotally Connected together so as to enalile each section to swing upwardly with respect to the next adj aeent inner Section.

Q1. A ballast screening machine comprising a frame, a conveyor' 0n said frame for carrying the material to he Cleaned, a screeningl devle-e in position on said trame to receive the material from the conveyor', and a aerevvv conveyor,extending transversely oit l the frame and eoinprisingiF a plurality 01"' sections pivotally connected together so as to enable eaeh Section. to swing' upwardly with respeot'to the nextl adjacent inner seetion, eaeh of the seetions eoinprisinga shaft havingl detachable connection with the shaft of the next adjacent inner Section.

22. A. ballast screening machine eoinprisng'a frame, a Conveyor on said frame for earryingt-he material to he cleaned, a screen ing' device in position on said frame to receive the material from the Conveyor, a second con veyor arranged transversely ot the machine and extendinga laterally therefrom at one side, said Conveyor being` formed of detachahle sections to provide for varying its el'ee* tive length. and means for driving one seetion from the adj aeent section.

HAROLD G. VVARR. 

